ORGANIC SKIN CARE 101

What Does Skin Do?

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and is uniquely dynamic, performing the tandem activities of absorption of nutrients and excretion of toxins, making its function as important as our respiratory and digestive systems. Although skin is our first line of defense, providing a protective outer barrier to the environment, it also absorbs 60-80% of what is applied to its surface.

Why Are Organic Products Important?

Because skin absorbs what we put on its surface, it is of concern that the CDC has repeatedly found high levels of toxic chemicals in test patients, presumably from synthetic ingredients in personal care products. The Breast Cancer Fund recently produced a report entitled, The State of the Evidence 2008: The Connection Between Breast Cancer & the Environment, which stated “it can be harmful” to combine personal care ingredients with environmental chemical exposure. In 2004 it was reported that the average American woman applies 168 chemicals (most untested for safety) per day, before leaving home. We do not know how these chemicals interact with other chemicals, but we do know that the body stores chemicals from personal care products in fatty tissue. This accumulation of chemicals in our bodies has come to be known as “body burden”.

Unfortunately, there is no standardized regulation of ingredients in personal care products, although official reports have sounded alarms for several years and several independent certifying organizations, with varying standards, do exist. To learn more about the regulation of personal care products and for our Dirty Dozen list of ingredients to avoid, click here to Get Educated.

Because personal care products are unregulated and 60-80% of what we put on the surface of our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream, we believe “what you put on your body is as important as what you put in your body” and suggest you choose organic.

What is Your Skin condition?

Choosing the correct products for your skin can be a daunting task. It is important to first identify your personal skin condition, and since it isn't always possible to have a professional consultation, we've provided guidelines, which are also used in our day spa by our Certified Holistic Skin Care Therapists, to help you determine your own skin condition.

Dry – Your skin feels dry and tight, and sometimes you can see flakes on your cheeks, chin and forehead. Fine lines may be present around the eye and lip areas.

Normal – Your skin is supple, warm and moist with an even tone and is neither excessively dry nor oily.

Combination – Your skin is mostly normal, although you may occasionally experience an oily t-zone (chin, nose and forehead), or dryness on cheeks, lips and around eyes.

Oily – Your skin is shiny, with enlarged pores, and is prone to spots and blemishes. Make-up seems to slide off as soon as it is applied. Oily skin has the benefit of not showing lines easily, but needs maintenance to prevent breakouts and control shine.

Acne – Your skin is characterized as normal to oily skin, but persistently breaks out, is clogged, reactive and is sometimes inflamed. Caused by a number of factors including overproduction of oil (hormonally influenced), cleanliness, stress and diet, acne can affect skin at any age, from teenager to adult.

Sensitive – Your complexion is usually fair and you are prone to redness and irritation, with visible capillaries and you may have been diagnosed with couperose or rosacea conditions. Sometimes confused with acne, rosacea often appears as inflammation and reddening of the nose, forehead, cheekbone or chin areas. Inflamed capillaries on the skin’s surface give the complexion a red, blotchy or bumpy appearance. A genetic condition, certain factors are known to aggravate rosacea. Avoid extremes such as hot liquids, alcohol, spicy foods and extreme temperatures.

Mature – Your skin is characterized by loss of tone and elasticity, with appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Your complexion may appear pale and dull, and may seem dry, thin and papery in places. Sun damage may also appear as pigmentation.

Basic Skin Care Made Simple

Skin absorbs primarily during the daylight hours, and eliminates and repairs during the night. Keeping the natural physiological function of skin in mind, if you want your skin to improve, take good care of it by following these simple suggestions.

Basic skin care consists of gently cleansing and applying toner twice per day. Keeping the absorption and elimination functions of skin in mind, we recommend moisturizing in the morning and using fluid, non-oily serums or treatment ampoules in the evening, so as to assist the repair processes, but not to impede the elimination processes. It is additionally helpful to use an eye cream since tissue in the eye area is delicate and requires assistance to stay firm and supple.

You can take your skin care to the next level by performing the additional steps of exfoliation, treatment masks and specialized serums and ampoules, which will assist the skin's repair processes.

Why exfoliate, and how often?

Exfoliation is the key to vibrant skin, removing the hard keratin layer of dead skin cell buildup, which can dull your complexion. Gentle exfoliation brings luminosity and clarity to the skin. For younger skin, exfoliation unplugs pores and keeps the skin clear and smooth. For mature skin, exfoliation is essential to help minimize fine lines, remove dry flakes, and to revive sluggish skin. How frequently you exfoliate depends on the condition of your skin and the product used, ranging from daily to weekly exfoliation.

Why use treatment masks, and how often?

Using a treatment mask once or twice per week will dramatically increase the elasticity and health of your skin. Masks usually contain high amounts of concentrated vitamins and nutrient-rich ingredients, and act like food for your skin. Masks, when used consistently, can firm and hydrate and can help control acne, rosacea and other conditions.

Why use serums, and how often?

Serums are “beauty elixirs” that infuse skin with pure vitamins and herbs. Highly concentrated, nutrient-rich serums penetrate deeply and can be used with every skin type to treat specific conditions, including the signs of aging. Serums are applied as the last step before moisturizing, or may be used in place of a moisturizer, especially during the nighttime hours. Serums may be used as part of your daily or weekly skin care regime.